Thursday!

[Deleted User]

Today is going ok. It's my boss' last day (well previous boss I guess)...which is kind of awkward. I am taking over all the projects our team was working plus a couple others with the company's new structure...so it's hard getting everything from her - especially knowing she's losing her job and they chose me over her.

I'm making myself feel better about it all with a Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar. YUM! I'm super dooper excited because my mom flies into town Saturday morning and I get her for almost 2 full weeks! It's going to be so fun and comforting to have her around for a bit.

We hit 16 weeks yesterday and baby is the size of an avocado. I can't believe how fast everything is going. I'm beginning to show which is...different. I just feel fat, but i'm trying to remind myself that's not the case. H seems to like it though, so that's a nice self confidence boost!

Dignity100

@eilis1228 - I covered hair for my BM and VIP guests; they did not want makeup done.  I basically asked them if they wanted to hair and/or makeup; if they said yes - I put them in my contract and paid for them.  I think proper etiquette says if you are requiring them to have their hair done professionally, you should pay for it and it's not supposed to count as their gift.

eilis1228

@LaPeanut1018 Thank you! That's definitely a great point about the makeup. I know my skin is really sensitive, and I'm picky about my makeup. Hair I'm terrible with, and updos can be tricky. I think covering the cost of hair would be the best option... and the most inexpensive too. My hair stylist offered to do BM hair for $60 per person, which is a really great deal. I'm verifying with her now that she'll stick to that price if I cover the cost for all 6 of the BMs plus me... she may opt to increase it or add an assistant with that many people. The makeup quote I got from a local lady was pretty decent too... $75 per person. I could give them the option of having her do their makeup too, and they would just pay for it themselves. I'll have to think about it a bit more though. 

@peaseblossom55 I may give them the option of using my people or not like you did. I just feel like I should cover the cost of something because we've been discussing everyone going to Vegas for the bachelor/bachelorette, which would be expensive. Plus there's the cost of the dress too. I just don't want anyone spending a small fortune on my wedding and stressing about it. I want everyone to be comfortable and feel pretty on the big day.

@Dignity100 I don't plan on requiring it per se, I just figured it would be a nice gesture. I've never been a BM, so I'm not sure how common it is for brides to cover anything beauty related. Their BM gifts definitely aren't wedding related though. Nothing will say "bridesmaid" on it, and nothing will be used in the wedding because those things aren't really gifts in my mind. I'm leaning towards paying for one service and giving them the option to pay themselves for the other service. Just trying to figure out which one to cover. Thank you for the input! I really appreciate it.

KeptInStitches

@eilis1228, I'm covering hair and makeup for my MoH and my mom, if they want it. It's a family friend who's going to be doing hair, so I don't want her to feel like we're taking advantage of her, and she's agreed to do these.

Dignity100

@eilis1228 - Why not ask them which they'd prefer?  I know, given the choice, I would probably choose hair, but I have long hair and stink at doing updos.

eilis1228

@KeptinStitches My hairstylist has become a close friend too, so I understand what you mean about not wanting to take advantage of them. I'm double checking to make sure my hairstylist is comfortable with it and not overwhelmed or anything. I told her that I'd definitely do a deposit and request a contract too. Definitely want to do everything by the book. Thanks for the advice! The trend seems to be to cover one or both, although not covering any is perfectly acceptable too. I have plenty of options.

eilis1228

@Dignity100 That's definitely an option too. I have some BMs with short hair, so they may not want anything done. I suppose adding people to contracts isn't a big deal, right? 

phira

@peaseblossom55 Fingers crossed that you get good vet news! I wish I could help you with the needle fear. I was never a fan of needles, but because of my medical history, I've had to get blood taken so many times, I don't really care anymore. And congrats on the part!

@keptinstitches I hope that the funeral is not too stressful, and that FI's family can find some peace and closure.

@speakeasy14 I'm heading to your T&P post in a moment, but I've got my fingers crossed for you regarding your diabetes test. I hope it's negative!! And thank you again for your advice yesterday; you managed to reduce my stress level immensely with one simple suggestion.

@eilis1228 I did not do bridal portraits, so I can't help you too much. But honestly, bridal portraits are, to me, like an engagement session: if you don't like your make-up artist you use for those photos, you find another one for the wedding, easy peasy. So I wouldn't stress too much over it.

I only have one bridesmaid, and I'm paying for her hair and make-up (which I told her was optional). For make-up, it's $65 for bridesmaids, and for hair, I told her I'd pay for a basic blow-dry and simple style (one step up from her washing, drying, and straightening her own hair), and she said she'd want something a little more complicated and that she'd cover the rest. But ... it's going to be $70 for her chosen style, so I'm just going to cover it for her.

@AlPacina I am so sorry about your night. Sexual violence survivor advocacy is something I care very deeply about, but it takes a huge emotional toll. Take care of yourself for sure!

@loves2shop4shoes

@cocobellaF YAY!!

@allusive007 That's rough trying to make that kind of transition at work. But yay for the baby being the size of an avocado!

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I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed today, but I'm much better than I was yesterday (speakeasy14, you old so-and-so, saving my ass). I've gotten all my teaching stuff squared away for next week, I've registered for classes, I've met with my boss, I've got my one last bachelorette experiment going right now (Western blot, wooo).

Tonight's plans are as follows:

If the laundry is working, J is going to do the final load of laundry when he gets home. If not, he's going to clean. When I get home, I'm going to make two last batches of candy, and while J bags those, I'm going to clean. We're going to finish our vows, and then before we go to bed, we're going to make sure everything is all set for Saturday.

Tomorrow, I've got to get to work a bit early to get my secondary antibody going before my 9am therapy session. Then I've got a couple hours to finish my Western before I've got a seminar and office hours. Then I've got to run to the post office to mail some returns, then off to the bank for quarters for laundry, and then off to the salon to have the hair ripped from my body (whee).

Tomorrow night is our bachelor/bachelorette party! We have no idea where it is, or who will be there. I think it's in Cambridge or something.

Saturday morning, we've got our rehearsal, and we're dropping everything off at the venue. After the rehearsal lunch, we're coming home and finishing whatever cleaning is left (and finishing the laundry if the machines aren't fixed by tonight). I've got a 5pm mani-pedi appointment with a friend of mine. After that, J and I are ordering in, sharing a bottle of wine, and relaxing.

labro

@phira I hope you have an amazing wedding weekend!

loves2shop4shoes

OMG @Phira, 3 days!  How the hell did that happen?!?!?

[Deleted User]

@phira - AAAAAH!  Wedding weekend!  I hope everything goes according to plan and you can just relax and enjoy!

KeptInStitches

@phira, yay wedding weekend! Have a wonderful relaxing wedding!

Peaseblossom55

@phira thank you! I was able to get my tests done early so yay for being done with needles today.  OMG 3 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay wedding weeekend, have a wonderful time and enjoy every minute of it!

phira

Thank you everyone!! I still can't believe it's THIS weekend. We're taking next week off to relax and recover, so I'll be around to recap

AlPacina

@Phira - Your wedding is so close! How freaking exciting! And way to have a plan! That will help your stress so much.

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I missed all my nephews' birthdays this year, so I just went to Target and bought them over-sized Jenga, which is awesome. The youngest will probably always knock it over, but it should be fun. It starts off at over 2 feet tall, so it can only grow from there!

And then I also got them one of those things with a bunch of pins sticking out, then when you press your hand or face against them they push out the opposite direction and form to that shape. You know what I'm talking about. I always wanted one when I was little, but never got to have one. I'm hoping for "coolest aunt" of the year, since I'll have been the only one who got to visit AND I brought presents, haha.

labro

@AlPacina Where did you find the Giant Jenga game? Was it super expensive? I think this would be the coolest Christmas gift ever for H's niece and nephew.

loves2shop4shoes

@Phira, where are you honeymooning?

phira

@loves2shop4shoes We're just taking a week off and staying home, but from Dec 27 - Jan 3 ... we're in Chicago (soooooo lemme know if you wanna meet up!)

AlPacina

@LaPeanut1018 - I found it at Target. It was in with all of the lawn dart/badminton type games. But it was 70 bucks :S I figured that it was 3 kids' presents for two occasions, so I could splurge. It has a nice carrying case with a handle and everything.

@ALL - I am two "Love It"s away from the 100 mark. Is that worth loving? :P

peekaboo2011

Happy Wedding Weekend @phira!!!

AlPacina

@KeptInStitches & @TwoDimes - You two are so freakin fabulous. I can't link things on my work computer, because it is terrible, but please look up "Wind Beneath My Wings" on youtube, play it loud, and know that I am dedicating the chorus of that song to you right now.

loves2shop4shoes

phira said:

@loves2shop4shoes We're just taking a week off and staying home, but from Dec 27 - Jan 3 ... we're in Chicago (soooooo lemme know if you wanna meet up!)

Um.  Yes.  Absolutely!!!!